It's time to get off your fat asses, people. It's stop to stop drinking that beer and eating those pretzels. It's time to write your representatives - daily - and let them know how pissed off you really are. It's time to let some professional politicians know that they are going to be out of a job - and probably unemployable and sleeping under a bridge - if they won't start doing what you elected them to do right now. It's time to march in streets and wave signs - even get arrested if that's what it takes. Be as obnoxious as you can!

Refuse - always non-violently - to give up your rights and your liberties. Teach your children what America should be - don't leave it to schools to brainwash them into accepting any "New World Order." Help them to understand that governments are just governments - only individuals can give up their liberties, and when they do, they might as well be dead. Teach them from real books, not watered down pap that won't mention freedom, or U.S. Constitution, or founding fathers. Hell, they won't even use word "war" in schools anymore, and I've actually met several high school kids who'd never heard of Patrick Henry!

Of course, Henry would probably be locked up as a dangerous subversive today. Our leaders don't want any "Give me liberty, or give me death" ideas reaching our youngsters. Really scary stuff.

And since when has World War II become "second global conflict"? My real father (who served during that "conflict"!) must be revolving in his grave!

Find those candidates who are not professional politicians. They do exist, because a lot of Americans are scared and unhappy with status quo right now. Find them, volunteer your time and money - go stump door to door for them if you have to. These people are a treasure beyond price. They are our only - and I do mean our only - hope, Help them win!

Work with other organizations! My first loyalty is to Armed Females of America. I am Texas Director, because this organization is about what I believe in, right down line.

Yes, I am angry with NRA for surrendering my rights for more than 35 years! But, dammit, they are 80 million strong, and most of rank and file members are no fonder of compromise than I am!

Second Amendment Sisters also compromises more than I like. But, dammit, 95% of time, we are allies!

The Libertarian Second Amendment Caucus is right down line with every single thing that Armed Females of America stands for! It was founded by L. Neil Smith, best (and most vocal) friend Second Amendment folks have ever had.

The Brady idiots can work together - so why can't gun people? We'd better learn, and quickly, too, or we are sunk, sunk, sunk!

Persuade your community to do what a couple of others have done - vote your city or town or even just your neighborhood into a "U.N. Free Zone." What a wonderful way to send a global message!

Own as many, and as lethal, firearms as you legally can. I do not suggest you use them. The very existence of an extremely large and well-armed populace has always been enough to give our government serious pause when it considers mistreating its citizens, and we have no reason to believe it won't work this time.

Wake up, people! Defense against tyranny was always reason for Second Amendment! Self-defense is a good thing. Prevention of crime is a good thing. But real reason right to keep and bear arms was considered sacred by founding fathers of this country was to prevent tyranny! Nothing has changed today, except of course that folks who want to control your lives (and not to your benefit!) are trying to deprive you of this right. Gee, I wonder why that would be . . .

Could it possibly be that they are trying to prevent large, leaky holes from appearing in their various anatomies?

I hear it from people every day. You're afraid these tactics won't work. Horse manure! The tactics I describe here ended Vietnam war when our leaders most emphatically did not want said very profitable war to end - and without starting a civil war in process - although I admit that we did come dangerously close a time or two.

Were there casualties? You bet there were! Most were on or near college campuses, as a matter of fact - kids age of most combat soldiers world over. Will there be casualties this time? Yes, there are sure to be. Will there be deaths? I truly hope not, but lessons of history all say there will be. Can't handle that idea? I pity you.

I might even be one of those casualties myself. Or worse from my point of view, I could end up with yearly tax audits for rest of my miserable days.

But I cannot - and I damned well will not! - sit here and do nothing while I watch country I love wither and die from within.

My personal hero, Thomas Jefferson, once said: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with blood of patriots & tyrants. It is its natural manure."

So let's start spreading a little of that smelly stuff around, folks. It's time to cultivate a big, fat tree!

At a tiny 5'1", Kathryn A. Graham is a licensed private investigator, pilot, aircraft mechanic and handgun instructor in Texas. Also a prolific author, she has written numerous articles, short stories and a science fiction novel. http://www.kathrynagraham.com/

So choosing to bear arms is indeed an act of great courage. It is a decision and a stance that any human being should be proud of.

Yet my students do not come to me with pride. They come to me furtively and ashamed, desperately making excuses for their decision as if mere association with firearms will somehow damage their integrity as human beings. Before I can even begin to teach them what they must know to bear arms safely and legally in this state, I must teach them that armed self-defense is their right, not a privilege they must ask for – and never, never something they should apologize for. They are requesting a concealed handgun license from state for sole purpose of remaining out of jail, but they were born with instinct and right to defend their own lives. This instinct is not immoral, and it never will be. And there is nothing nobler than decision to risk your own life to defend someone else.

It is interesting to watch process. They sit a little straighter now.

The next step is to teach them Texas law and a few simple rules for resolving conflicts without violence. We cover some firearm safety rules, and they take a range test so unbelievably easy it only proves that they know at which end of range target is located. That test is meant to be easy. It should be easy for an 80 year old grandmother to pass. It was designed that way!

After state requirements and testing are completed, they take their first steps on a lifetime journey together. I would not presume to tell my students what is right and what is wrong. I tell them about Texas law, that’s all. But I do have an obligation to make them think about right and wrong. They must begin to set their personal boundaries and define what they are and are not willing to do.

In midst of a firefight is not place to make these philosophical decisions!

For example: If a burglar broke into your house tonight and tried to make off with your VCR, would you confront and try to stop him? If he attacked you then, would you shoot to defend yourself? You had better know answers to these and many other questions before you choose to keep and/or carry a firearm. When situation is happening, it is already much too late to think it through. I ask my students to try imagine every possible circumstance and decide what they would and would not do. The thinking process is never complete. It is ongoing.

There is self-defense, and there is murder. Much of time that line is clear and obvious. But many circumstances can blur line between self-defense and murder to point where there is no clear cut right and wrong answer. Personal boundaries must be set in that gray area. In fact, I can’t imagine any decision more personal except possibly decision of what deity to worship.

That idea sinks in, and my students leave classroom with a lot of thinking to do.

What they do not yet realize is that thinking they will do over coming months and years is going to change them forever – and for better. It never fails. That is hidden virtue of firearms. We do very little moral thinking in our society. Most kids today are actually embarrassed at mention of “right” and “wrong.” Yet concepts of right and wrong, of duty – and of sacrifice – go hand in hand with idea of lawful carry. Training your kids in use of firearms offers a golden opportunity to teach them moral values.

Thomas Jefferson, one of great architects of our nation, understood this very well. In 1785, he wrote a letter to Peter Carr, then attending school in Paris, in which he offered warm advice on how best to seek success, both in college and in life.

In Jefferson’s own words: “A strong body makes mind strong. As to species of exercise, I advise gun. While this gives a moderate exercise to body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to mind. Games played with ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for body, and stamp no character on mind. Let your gun therefore be constant companion of your walks.”

Excellent advice.

At a tiny 5'1", Kathryn A. Graham is a licensed private investigator, pilot, aircraft mechanic and handgun instructor in Texas. Also a prolific author, she has written numerous articles, short stories and a science fiction novel. http://www.kathrynagraham.com/